The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment June 2026 Newsletter!

Photograph by James McQueen

Mayor Brandon M. Scott addresses the crowd during the 50th Annual AFRAM Festival, celebrating five decades of Black culture, community, and excellence in Baltimore.

The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment (MOACE) connects artists, residents, and city agencies to support, celebrate, and grow Baltimore’s creative community. By bridging City government and the artist community, we strive to strengthen creativity in all its forms, from public art, cultural fairs, and citywide festivals to film permitting, nightlife, and operational support. Our mission is to make arts, culture and entertainment accessible to every corner of Baltimore and bring the joy of creative expression to all Baltimoreans.

DTLR

The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment is proud to recognize DTLR for its continued investment in Baltimore’s creative community and cultural landscape.

This year, DTLR played a significant role in two of the city’s signature events, serving as a sponsor of both Artscape and the 50th Annual AFRAM Festival. Through these partnerships, DTLR has continued to demonstrate its commitment to celebrating Baltimore’s artists, entrepreneurs, and rich cultural heritage.

In conjunction with Artscape, DTLR presented the Sole Up Exhibition at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture. The exhibition explored DTLR’s lasting impact on Baltimore’s fashion, music, and culture while showcasing artwork from talented local artists. The exhibition celebrated the intersection of sneakers, style, art, and community, highlighting the brand’s deep roots in Baltimore.

At AFRAM, DTLR partnered with the City of Baltimore to host the Podcast Patio at Druid Hill Park. The interactive space featured live podcast recordings, engaging community conversations, and discussions centered on culture, entrepreneurship, and the future of Baltimore’s creative economy.

As DTLR continues to invest in meaningful community partnerships, its support helps create opportunities for artists, storytellers, and residents to connect, celebrate, and shape Baltimore’s vibrant cultural future.

Photograph by Vivian Marie Doering

Installation view of Homage to Baltimore: Quilt Competition at Current Space

Winners Announced for Mayor Brandon Scott’s Baltimore Quilting Competition 2026

The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment (MOACE) is proud to announce the winners of Mayor Brandon Scott’s Baltimore Quilt Competition, celebrating the extraordinary artistry, craftsmanship, and storytelling of Baltimore’s quilting community.

Congratulations to this year’s award recipients:

First Place – $5,000
Baltimore Citizens from Past to Present on a Zoom Call
Piecing with a Purpose Quilt Collective

Second Place – $2,000
The Doorway of a Rowhome at Dawn’s Early Light
Sharon Coffman

Third Place – $1,500
All My Dreams Started in East Baltimore

Honorable Mention – $500
Baltimore: The City that Quilts
Baltimore Heritage Team

The competition revives a cherished Baltimore tradition, celebrating the city’s rich quilting heritage while showcasing the creativity and innovation of today’s artists. Through these remarkable works, participants explored Baltimore’s history, neighborhoods, culture, and communities, demonstrating the enduring power of quilting as both an art form and a means of storytelling.

The winning quilts, along with works by additional participating artists, are currently on view in Homage to Baltimore: The Mayor’s Quilt Competition at Current Space through July 19, 2026. Visitors are encouraged to experience this inspiring exhibition and celebrate the talented artists who continue to shape Baltimore’s vibrant cultural legacy.

Photograph by James McQueen

Mayor Brandon M. Scott poses with Councilman Jermaine Jones and crew members during SAIL250 Baltimore.

Sail250® Maryland & Airshow Baltimore! What a vibrant weekend!

Baltimore’s waterfront was full of energy as thousands of residents and visitors came together to celebrate Sail250® Maryland & Airshow Baltimore. As one of only five host cities for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, Baltimore welcomed people from near and far for a weekend filled with history, entertainment, and community.

Visitors explored historic tall ships and military vessels, watched exciting aerial performances, including the return of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, and enjoyed activities throughout the Inner Harbor, Fells Point, North Locust Point, Baltimore Peninsula, and Martin State Airport.

The event showcased the best of Baltimore by bringing people together to celebrate the city’s rich maritime heritage and vibrant waterfront. Families, friends, and visitors enjoyed live entertainment, toured the ships, and experienced all that Baltimore has to offer.

The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment was proud to support this incredible event alongside our partners. Thank you to everyone who helped make Sail250® Maryland & Airshow Baltimore such a memorable success and to all who joined us in celebrating this historic occasion.

Photograph by Jaylynn Lawlah

Mario lights up the stage during AFRAM Weekend at Druid Hill Park!

AFRAM 50: Celebrating 50 Years of Culture, Community, and Excellence

This year, the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment, in partnership with Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, proudly celebrated the 50th Annual AFRAM Festival, marking five decades of one of the largest African American cultural festivals on the East Coast. Held in the heart of Druid Hill Park, the city’s 745-acre urban oasis, AFRAM welcomed more than 150,000 visitors each day for a weekend filled with music, culture, food, and community.

For three unforgettable days, people from across Baltimore and beyond gathered to celebrate Black culture and heritage through nationally acclaimed entertainment, local vendors, family-friendly activities, and community programming. Festivalgoers enjoyed unforgettable performances from Charlie Wilson, SWV, Normani, Lil Mo, J Brown, DJ Quicksilva, and many talented local artists who showcased the creativity and energy of Baltimore’s vibrant music scene.

The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment extends its sincere gratitude to our partners and sponsors whose support helped make this milestone celebration possible. We are especially grateful to Amazon Music, WJZ, DTLR, Civic Fund, and Urban One for their generous support, as well as the many community organizations, volunteers, vendors, and city agencies whose dedication brought AFRAM 50 to life.

Photograph by Jaylynn Lawlah

As the festival celebrated its golden anniversary, it reaffirmed AFRAM’s enduring legacy as a beloved Baltimore tradition that brings together generations to celebrate Black culture, champion local artists and businesses, while strengthening the sense of community that makes Baltimore extraordinary.

Learn More

Tribeca 25 Recap

The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment had the opportunity to attend the Tribeca X Conference in June. This conference was a part of the Tribeca Film Festival that celebrated 25 years of supporting independent filmmaking. Attending the world premiere of They Fight was a tremendous highlight of festival. This is Baltimore native Sheldon Candis’s 2nd feature film that was shot in Baltimore City last fall. The film’s director, producers, cast and crew received overwhelming accolades and support at the premiere.

In addition, there were panel discussions and screenings to learn more about the current film industry trends. Attending Tribeca created a wonderful opportunity to share information with independent filmmakers and producers about the Maryland Film Production Activity Tax Credit program and tell why they should film their next project in Baltimore City.

Baltimore City.

They Fight premiering on Hulu and Disney+ on July 17th, 2026! Tune In!

They Fight Movie Info

Events In The Month Of July

July 10-12— Caribbean Festival
July 19—Closing Reception Homage to Baltimore: A Quilting Exhibition
July 25—Fete Champetre: A Luxe Garden Party 2026
Ongoing — The Janet & Walter Sondheim Art Prize Finalists Exhibition

The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment is committed to uplifting artists and creatives by connecting them to resources and opportunities. Check out the latest grants and opportunities below.

Instagram

Threads

Website